On 29.10.2024, Government of India expanded Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to provide free treatment benefits of up to ₹5 lakh per year to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status including tribal communities.

With regard to the health benefit services, National Health Authority (NHA) has defined the latest national master of the Health Benefit Package (HBP) which provides cashless healthcare services related to 1961 procedures across 27 medical specialties including General Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Cardiology, Oncology etc. which can be availed by different age groups. Among these, treatment services like Hemodialysis / Peritoneal Dialysis, Acute Ischemic Stroke, accelerated hypertension, Total Hip Replacement, Total Knee Replacement, PTCA, inclusive of diagnostic angiogram, Single Chamber Permanent Pacemaker Implantation, Double Chamber Permanent Pacemaker Implantation, etc., are available to eligible senior citizens as well. Further, states have been provided flexibility to further customize the Health Benefit Packages to local context.

Under AB-PMJAY, the beneficiaries of Ayushman Vay Vandana Cards are eligible to take the benefits of the scheme through a network of over 30,072 hospitals including 13,352 private hospitals.

AB-PMJAY has a comprehensive media and outreach strategy to spread awareness and empower beneficiaries for their rights and entitlements more prominently in rural and backward areas. This includes advertisement over traditional media platforms including newspapers, community radio, street plays, digital displays, radio campaigns, mass messaging, and telecast of beneficiary testimonials via Doordarshan etc. In addition to this, State Health Agencies have also engaged the wide network of frontline workers i.e., ASHAs, AWWs and VLEs (Village Level Entrepreneurs) who are pivotal in creating mass awareness at the grassroot level. In addition to this, the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card beneficiaries may give a missed call to helpline number 1800-110-770 or call to 24x7 call centre (14555) for any assistance/queries.

Further, the government has issued directions to the states to undertake extensive IEC activities to raise the awareness about the expansion of AB-PMJAY for all senior citizens of the age 70 years and above.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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HFW/ Update on Ayushman Vay Vandana Scheme/04 February 2025/5